Atmosphere: Norman Quacks is conveniently located at the end of a small strip mall facing Broadway Ave, between Hwy 61 and I-35. The space is big and open, with a bar area to the left when you walk in and the dining room on the right. There are a number of booths and tables throughout the restaurant, with space to accommodate larger parties in the back. Everywhere you look there are interesting objects hanging on the walls, and a library’s-worth of books stacked on the half-wall between the booths, giving the restaurant character while making the booths more private.

Sunday- $10.95 12 oz Prime Rib with Onion RingsWhat we ordered: We started with the basket of freshly baked Ciabatta Bread. The bread is served with a flavored whipped butter, the flavor of which changes daily. We had garden-herb butter on this visit.

We also got an order of Cheese Curds. I love the cheese curds at Quack’s! The gooey white cheddar curds are battered with the same unique batter that is used on the giant onion rings, and are slightly salty. They are fried perfectly until crispy golden brown on outside, and not too greasy. Great dipped in the ranch that comes with it.

For my meal I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, which is what I order 90% of the time I visit Quacks. This is my favorite sandwich on the menu and is the best Buffalo Chicken sandwich I have had anywhere. They start with the biggest chicken breast they can find, then bread it, deep fry it, and coat it in delicious and mildly spicy Buffalo sauce. It has a couple of sliced of thick-cut bacon and melted cheddar cheese, tomato and lettuce served on the side. Very big and very messy, I usually end up using silverware to eat it.

One of my companions ordered a “double” of the the Sunday Prime Rib Special (usually 12 oz cut served with onion rings for $10.95). This GIANT cut of prime rib weighed in at around 25 oz, most of which was meat with just a small amount of fat. Served with au jus and creamy horseradish. Excellent cut of meat for a great price, making Quack’s a popular place on Sundays!

Another companion ordered the Two-Pork Chop Dinner (can order one or two chops), served with fries (choice of potato) and soup or salad. These were two big, tender and juicy pork chops, with Cajun seasonings. Big enough to share between two!

We did not have dessert on this visit but here is a photo of the Giant Chocolate Cake that I took just a few months ago on a different visit. Heavenly and gigantic with at least four layers of dark chocolate cake nestled between more layers of thick, chocolate butter cream frosting. I recommend that you share this big boy!

Service: Our service on this occasion was great! We were greeted and seated immediately and our order was taken promptly. Within minutes of being seated we were given a nice big basket of bread fresh out of the oven right. Drinks were refilled promptly and food came out at a reasonable pace.Overall Impression: I’ve already mentioned that Norman Quack’s is one of my favorite restaurants. They have a fine selection of quality steaks and fish, the specialty sandwiches and burgers are all really good, and the half-priced appetizers during Happy Hour are a great deal. The Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and Prime Rib are what we crave, in fact there is a good chance you’ll find me (and at least one companion) here on any given Sunday. See you there!

Atmosphere: Located on Grand Avenue in St Paul, Wild Onion is a full-service restaurant that also moonlights as a nightclub. During the day, Wild Onion is a casual, relaxed restaurant that has become a popular place for lunch by local residents, shoppers, and also people who work around St Paul. The restaurant is fairly large and has many tables and booths around the edges of the space. The brick walls have a variety of beautiful original canvas paintings hanging about.

At night the Wild Onion turns into a really fun place to hang out with a large, centrally located Bar and dance floor. Most nights there is a DJ playing after 8pm so it can be quite loud, as expected. Very popular with the 21+ crowd, especially local co-eds, birthday celebrations, and bachelor/bachelorette parties.

What I ordered: I did not want to order a full meal for lunch so I opted to get the chicken quesadilla appetizer. Very flavorful choice! The two large flour tortillas were stuffed with bites of grilled white meat chicken, roasted sweet corn, sauteed peppers and onion, cheddar and jack cheeses, and then grilled until everything was hot and melted. The tortillas were a crispy golden brown and slightly buttery, then topped with chipotle ranch, sour cream and crumbled Mexican cheese. It was served with sliced fresh peppers, salsa, and chopped greens on the side.

One of my companions ordered the Ahi Tuna and Avocado Wrap. This wrap had Sushi-grade yellow fin tuna seared rare and wrapped inside a tortilla with shredded carrots, avocado, tomato, wasabi and a white-balsamic vinaigrette. Served with a side of avocado ranch and fresh fruit. (Comes standard with kettle chips or you can upgrade to fresh fruit or french fries for $1.50 extra)

Another companion ordered the Veggie Wrap with fries (upgrade from standard kettle chips). This wrap included Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, green and red onions with Swiss cheese. Tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette and served with a side of avocado ranch.

Another companion ordered the Juicy Lucy, which was stuffed with Swiss cheese and served on a toasted bun. I didn’t try it but it looked great and my companion enjoyed it very much.

Service: Our visit was on a Friday for a late lunch but we were luckily able to find a parking spot in the attached lot. As soon as we arrived we were greeted by a friendly hostess and then seated. Our server was patient as we took our time looking over the menu, and offered a few suggestions to make ordering easier. It took at least 20 minutes for our meals to be served, but drinks were filled in a timely manner.Overall Impression: The Wild Onion is a happenin’ place to eat or drink on Grand Avenue, with good food and great birthday specials. Check out Wild Onion at night with a group of friends if you’re looking for a fun place to dance and have cocktails.

Atmosphere: Located in Maplewood at the corner of McKnight and Minnehaha Ave, 5-8 Tavern & Grill is the sister restaurant to the famous 5-8 Club in South Minneapolis. The building is divided into two distinct sides, the tavern is to the left when you walk through the front entrance and the dining room to the right. The dining room had both tables and booths. Walls were decorated with a combo of neon lights and 50’s memorabilia.

What we ordered: My companions and I started with the Deep Fried Mushrooms. The mushrooms had a thick, crunchy, solid breading that had been fried to a dark golden color. I thought these were very good but the mushrooms inside the breading had shrunk quite a bit while cooking, leaving a lot more batter than mushroom. It was served with a mild blue cheese dressing for dipping.

My companions also ordered some of the Potato Skins which were covered with melted cheddar and Monterey jack, bacon, green onions and sour cream on the side. I did not eat these but my companions liked them.

For my entree I ordered a Swiss cheese Juicy Lucy with bacon ( because bacon makes every burger even better). The burger was made with two 1/4 lb patties pressed together with cheese melted in the middle. It was extremely hot so I cut it in half as seen below (served whole). There was a substantial amount of cheese escaping the pocket of meat but it sure was great tasting! There was a thin layer of pickles under the patty. I liked it a lot but honestly didn’t have that different of an experience than I would with a traditional bacon and swiss burger. The french fries were an “add on” to the burger for an additional charge. Tasty but basic shoe-string fries

One of my companions ordered the American Cheese Juicy Lucy with mushrooms in a basket with Onion Rings. The Juicy Lucy was indeed hot and juicy, loaded with melted cheese. The onion rings were fried to a crispy dark golden brown and were just the right thickness for my liking

Another companion ordered an American cheese Juicy Lucy with Bacon and Swiss melted on top, also in a basket with onion rings and a small side of coleslaw.

Service: This was my first time at this location of the 5-8 and the restaurant was pretty busy, being a Friday night. I have to admit I was a little confused when I first arrived because there was no hostess stand or a sign anywhere inviting guests to find a seat and there didn’t seem to be anyone handy to ask. My companions and I took the liberty of seating ourselves in a booth and were greeted shortly after by one of the wait staff. Our server was very friendly and also had a great sense of humor. The food was prepared in a reasonable amount of time considering how busy it was.Overall Impression: If you haven’t ever had a Juicy Lucy before, what are you waiting for? The 5-8 is a great place to try the famous creation and they have four different varieties of cheese so there is something for everyone. They also have a variety of other sandwiches and entrees on the menu with very reasonable prices, especially considering the large portion sizes. My only suggestion is that 5-8 should have malts on their menu because what could go better with a burger basket than a nice creamy ice cream malt or shake?!

Atmosphere: As the name suggests, the atmosphere of the 50’s Grill is one that takes you back in time. When you first walk in to the restaurant, you see that all the servers are wearing pink Poodle Skirts! There is a large bakery counter filled with delicious pies and cakes, and there is also a counter where Old Fashioned ice cream treats are made (complete with black & white tiling and antique malt mixer!)

If you didn’t already feel like you were in the 50’s just upon entering the building, the dining room will surely do the job with its’ black & white checkered flooring, blue and pink neon lights around the edge of the ceiling, and an impressive collection of framed posters and art from the 50’s Era. The space is divided into several four-person hot pink high-backed booths that allow for more privacy. There is also a section of the dining room near the windows that has tables that can be arranged to accommodate bigger groups.

There is also this lounge area to the right when you first enter 50’s Grill

Burgers at the 50’s Grill are made from 6 oz. of fresh ground beef include 50’s Grill Burger, 50’s Grill Cheeseburger, The Big Cheese, Bacon & Smoked Cheddar, Guacamole Burger, Multi-Grain Melt and Patty Melt. 4 oz burgers can also be made and include Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Pepper Cheeseburger, Bacon Cheeseburger, and California Burger. Bison Burgers are also available made from lean ground Bison.

Price guide: Appetizers Sandwiches $6-8 Burgers $6-8 Dinner Plates $9-15 Pie $3.79/slice Ice Cream $3-5Weekly Dinner Specials: Monday- Stuffed Rotisserie Chicken, Tuesday- Carved Roast Turkey with Dressing and Mashed Potatoes, Wednesday- Pot Roast with Carrots & Onions Thursday- Hot Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes, Friday/Saturday- Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que with Coleslaw and Baked BeansWhat I ordered: Many of the many choices looked great but I was in the mood for a burger so I had the Guacamole Burger. The ground beef patty was pretty big and tasty and was served on a toasted bun baked fresh at the restaurant. The bacon and fresh guacamole added the expected flavor and really made the burger. I think it would’ve been even better if I had added Pepper Jack or Swiss cheese and maybe even some jalapenos (I love spice to kick things up a notch). The krinkle-cut fries were your standard frozen krinkle fries.

My companion had the 50’s Grill Cheeseburger, topped with American cheese, tomato, lettuce and red onion.

I couldn’t come to a restaurant like 50’s Grill that has so many desserts and not try a few (for the sake of this review of course ;) ), so we also got a couple of slices of pie to-go. The strawberry rhubarb pie was delicious! You could tell from the freshness of the ingredients and flaky pie crust that this was fresh, homemade pie. The filling had large pieces of both strawberry and rhubarb, both a little sweet and a little tart. Delicious!

We also tried the Coconut Cream Pie because this is one of my favorite types of pie. The filling was thick, vanilla-pudding-based (homemade and not from a box!) with grated coconut shavings mixed within. The pie had a thick layer of real whipped cream atop the pudding, then topped with toasted coconut flakes. Delish!

Service: We were shown right to a table when we arrived and were then promptly greeted by our server. Our server (dressed straight out-of-the-50’s with her poodle skirt and bobby socks!) was nice and made some good suggestions about the menu. Our food was served quickly and beverages were refilled often.Overall Impression: Fun place! Good burgers and awesome desserts!

Cuisine: American, BurgersRestaurant Features: Bar, GamesLocation: St Paul, MNAddress: 492 Hamline Ave. So St Paul, MN 55116 (651)698-4647Links:Nook WebsiteGoogle MapAtmosphere: The Nook is tucked into its' Highland Park neighborhood within a little building just across the street from Ball Field of Cretin-Durham Hall. The dining room of the restaurant is long and narrow, accommodating approximately twelve tables. There is a variety of local memorabilia framed and hung on the walls, in addition to a handful of nice flat-screened TVs that are also hung up throughout the restaurant. I am pretty sure I also saw a couple of video game machines at the very back of the dining room. There is also a bar when you first walk in that seats about eight.

What We ordered: My companion and I started with the Cheese Curds. This was a pretty generous helping of cheese curds, which were all bite-sized with a semi-hard outer breading and hot melted Wisconsin Cheese in the center. Delicious! They came with a side of ranch for dipping. I would recommend a minimum of three people share these rich treats. I love them but can't eat too many at one time and I ate way more than I should have before the main course.

Our server told us that the favorite burger of everyone that works at the Nook is the Lodge Burger, so I ordered that to see what it was all about. The seasoned beef patty was obviously fresh, very flavorful and juicy. It had two layers of cheddar cheese, one on each side of the beef, plus bacon, tomato, lettuce and a special chipotle mayo. I crave flavor and this burger did it for me! I was on cheese-overload from all the cheese curds I ate earlier and could have done without the second layer of cheese on my burger, but otherwise it ranks up there as one of the best burgers I have had. I opted to sub Onion Rings instead of Fries and received a big portion of the golden rings. The rings were thick-cut and also thickly breaded. Good stuff!

My companion had the Juicy Nookie with fresh sauteed mushrooms. The medium-cooked burger was stuffed with a mound of melted American cheese that oozed out. My companion loved it and agrees that the Burger at the Nook is one of the best ever consumed. The big pile of fries were fresh-cut and dense in the middle with just a slightly crispy outside and lightly seasoned with cracked pepper and garlic salt.

Service: Great! I had heard that the Nook is one of the few restaurants in town that consistently has a wait for a table, so my companion and I were pleasantly surprised that there were plenty of tables for us to choose from on a Monday afternoon around 4pm. Our server did an excellent job of making us feel welcome and took his time to suggest different burgers and stayed on top of the drink refills. Food was ready in a reasonable amount of time. It started to get more busy as the hour progressed and by 5 pm every table was filled.Overall Impression: Some of the best burgers in the Twin Cities, at great prices.

Atmosphere: The Dining room at Bennett’s is a large open space with several round and rectangular wooden tables adorned with white table cloths and a layer of white butcher paper in lieu of placemats. A bar runs along one long wall with additional seating that provides an excellent view of the TVs hung over head. It was mellow at lunch time but looks like it could be a fun place to come before/after an event at the Xcel Energy Center or other downtown St Paul venue.

Menu: Bennett’s is open for breakfast and has a few classic breakfast combos with egg, hashbrowns, choice of meat, and toast, pancakes, or French toast. They also have a selection of 3-Egg Omelets such as the Farmer’s, Italian, Ham & Cheese, Cheese and Mexican. Signature breakfasts include Eggwich on English Muffin, West 7th Special (hashbrowns with veggies, eggs and cheese), Eggs Benedict, Little Charlie Benedict (eggs benedict served over tenderloin medallions with caramelized onions), Italian Skillet, Veggie Skillet, and Yogurt with Fresh Fruit.

There are a pleasant number of sandwiches and burgers and all come with chips, including the BLT, Club House, Little Charlie’s Tenderloins, the Reuben, Veggie Delight (Grilled Asparagus), Meatloaf, Open-Faced Sandwich, Braised Short Ribs, French Dip, Shore Lunch Walleye, Dante’s Inferno, Spicy Italian, and Emma’s Original Turkey. Substitute chips with fresh cut fries for an additional $1. The selection of chicken sandwiches alone is impressive with the Teriyaki Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Parmesan, Pesto Chicken, Swiss and Mushroom, Fort Road, and the Crispy Chicken. Specialty 1/2 lb. burgers include the Juicy Lucy, Patty Melt and the Black N Blue. Fresh cut fries included with burgers and chicken sandwiches.

Pasta is also a specialty of Bennett’s with dishes such as Cajun Chicken, Chicken Alfredo, Lemon Shrimp over Fettuccine , Spaghetti with Meatballs and Lobster Ravioli (dinner only).

What we ordered: To start, my companions and I shared the Tenderloin Tips. These were melt-in-your-mouth tender and infused with flavor that had a pleasant kick. The homemade bernaisse and horseradish sauces looked good but I loved the beef without it. My only complaint is that the portion seemed like just a few bites, not much to go around if you’re sharing.

We also ordered the Stuffed Mushrooms, which came as an order of four giant mushroom caps filled with wild rice and Mornay sauce and loaded with mozzarella and cheddar baked on top. These were delicious!

For my entree I was really debating between the Dante’s Inferno or the Reuben. I am a Reuben girl and had to follow my heart, so Reuben it was. The corned beef was the real deal, sliced thin and then topped with melted Swiss and sauerkraut that had a touch of thousand island dressing mixed in. It was on thick pumpernickel bread that was grilled to a crispy golden brown. I up-graded and got the fresh cut French Fries for $1 extra. It was worth it, as the portion was pretty big and the fries tasted just like the fresh French Fries you can get at the MN State Fair, with the insides still just slightly firm.

One of my companions had the BLT sandwich, served on ciabatta bread. The bacon was crispy and the lettuce and tomato fresh.

Another companion ordered the Chicken Pecan Raspberry Salad, which looked so good! It came with a large chicken breast grilled and sliced atop a bed of fresh spinach and other greens. It was also loaded with bleu cheese crumbles, candied pecans and a sweet raspberry dressing. It comes with one fresh warm breadstick but my companion asked for an extra.

Another companion had the Oriental Chicken Salad. There were a few pieces of crispy white-meat chicken atop a bed of mixed greens with carrots, with crispy chow mein noodles and mandarin oranges and then tossed with an oriental sesame ginger dressing.

Service: Our visit was at lunch time on a Wednesday and fortunately for us it wasn’t too busy. Our service was very good, with food and drinks served in a timely manner. The server was good about answering questions and helping with food selections. There was a slight mistake with one of the orders and it took awhile longer to be served than the rest of the food, but Bennett’s was gracious in correcting the slight mix-up.Overall Impression: Lunch is served quickly and they have a lot to choose from on the menu. Prices seemed a little high for what you got, but the food was quite good and so was the service. I would like to go back and try the dinner sometime.

Atmosphere: There are two dining areas in the Old Log Cabin, the main dining room with a variety of booths and tables (not pictured) and then the bar area which has a handful of high tables with additional seating at the bar. Like it’s name suggests, the Old Log Cabin has a rustic feel and the building itself is made from several large logs. Nearly every square inch of the bar area is covered with business cards of every variety!

Price guide: Appetizers $ 5-8 Salads $7-9 Burgers & Sandwiches $7-9 Dinner Entrees $10-18 Desserts $3-4What we ordered: We started with the Fungus Humongous and like the name suggests, these fried mushrooms were HUGE! The extra-large fresh mushrooms were halved, lightly battered and then fried to a crispy brown and served with a honey-mustard dipping sauce. Delish!

For my meal I ordered the Ptarmigan Chicken Sandwich (the server affirmed that this was a great choice!). This was a grilled chicken breast topped with creamy spinach artichoke dip and melted cheese on a toasted bun. The chicken was tender and juicy and the artichoke dip was flavorful and had a decent amount of artichoke. The french fries were mediocre, with a slightly crispy textured outside and very little seasonings (reminded me of Burger King fries).

One of my companions ordered the Hot Prime Sandwich which consisted of thick slices of prime rib served between slices of fresh white bread, a large scoop of mashed potatoes and then smothered with gravy. This is obviously the type of sandwich that is meant to be eaten with silverware! I tried a few bites and thought the prime rib was good, but the gravy wasn’t my favorite. My companion enjoyed this meal.

Another companion ordered the steak sandwich, which was literally a steak thrown between a couple of slices of toast and then served with a side of au jus.

Another companion ordered the Sirloin Tips, which came with a cup of soup, dinner roll, and baked potato. The sirloin tips were tender and juicy, smothered with sauteed onions and mushrooms.

Service: Our visit was on a Saturday afternoon between lunch and dinner, so there were only a few other customers dining at the time. Our server doubled as bartender, but was prompt and friendly for the most part. My only complaint is that the fried mushroom appetizer was served with the meal instead of coming out first but it wasn’t that big of a deal.Overall Impression: The Old Log Cabin was more laid back than I had expected and the food was priced very reasonably for the amount that came with each order. The service was good too!

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